1. Spectroscopic studies of wood fossils from the Crato Formation, Cretaceous Period.
- Author
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da Silva JH, Freire PT, Abagaro BT, Silva JA, Saraiva GD, de Lima FJ, Barros OA, Bantim RA, Saraiva AA, and Viana BC
- Subjects
- Brazil, Optical Imaging, Spectrophotometry, Infrared, Spectrum Analysis, Raman, Time Factors, Wood ultrastructure, X-Ray Diffraction, Fossils, Geological Phenomena, Wood chemistry
- Abstract
In this work we study two types of wood fossils (Gymnosperms, Araucariaceae) from the Crato Formation of Araripe Basin in Brazil, from the Cretaceous Period. The samples were characterized by Raman and infrared spectroscopies, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results obtained by different techniques showed that although the rocks surrounding the fossils have predominantly the same constitution - calcite - however, the formation processes of these types of wood fossils are quite different. One of the fossils, denominated as light wood, is predominantly composed of gypsum, while the other fossil, the dark wood, is rich in amorphous carbon, possibly the kerogen type. Implications relative to the environment where the plants lived millions years ago are also given. Finally, the results highlight the constitution of one of the most important paleontological sites of the Cretaceous Period in the South America., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.) more...
- Published
- 2013
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